Risk Based Corrective Action (RBCA) Tool Kit for Chemical Releases

I have purchased a new software called RBCA Tool Kit for Chemical Releaases v2.6 from GSI International Inc (http://www.gsi-net.com).  The software was designed by GSI  to meet the requirements of the ASTM Standard Guide for Risk-Based Corrective Action (E-2081).  This software provides expanded flexibility and additional risk and transport models to allow for even easier application of this essential software tool to develop risk-based soil and groundwater clean-up levels consistent with local regulations or requirements around the world.

A snapshot of the RBCA Software

Main screen of the software with an option to do Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 analysis.

GERG Blog Statistics

Thanks to all visitors who have visited my GERG Blog.  Below is the statistics of the page views according to countries.  Thank you for your support!.

Testing mobile blog update on my Samsung Android phone.

YES, It works!!. This is a blog update using my Samsung Android phone. 

Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) - Phase II

Environmental Site Assessment (Phase II) has been conducted to determine the risk of oil contaminated site to human health and the environment.  Detail and intrusive investigations involved drilling, constructing monitoring wells, sampling of environmetal media impacted and conducting a Tier 1 risk assessment.

Drilling and constructing the monitoring well on site.

My internship student, Mr. Shohta Kihara helping with environmental media soil and groundwater sampling

Closer look at the oil contaminated soil

Groundwater Modeling of Krubung Landfill Site in Melaka

Groundwater flow and contaminant transport modeling has been conducted very recently at Kerubung Landfill site in Melaka.  The simulation of groundwater flow and transport was conducted using Visual Modflow Pro software.  The model was simulated at 5, 10 and 20 years after the released of leachate from this landfill. 

Google map of Krubung Landfill which is sited very close to Sg. Melaka

3-D view of the Krubung Landfill model area using Visual Modflow Pro Software

Model of flow and transport of contaminant from the landfill after 10-year simulation time

Virtual Fieldwork for Geologist

This project is about a virtual fieldwork.  The main objective of the project is to develop a new virtual fieldwork software for geology student in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. This project is funded by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia under its "Pelan Tindakan Strategik" research grant.  The project will be conducted with my new MSc Student, Abang Casfian. 

The title of Virtual Fieldwork Project

Groundwater Modelling on a slope failure at Jalan Puteri 9/2, Bandar Puteri Puchong

The site is located at Bandar Puteri 9, Puchong in Selangor.  The site is surrounded by a hilly terrain on the east and south of the area.  There is also a small stream located on the north side of the site, flowing east-west.  The site was excavated for a housing development and was levelled by cut and fill method.  The south part (hill) was cut and the cut material was used to fill up the valley up to a platform level.  During the filling process, the natural drainage pattern was also filled, resulting blockage of the existing river and later may influence the groundwater flow pattern in this area.

The project site at Jalan Puteri 9/2 in Puchong Selangor

Groundwater flowing so fast from these horizontal drains.  Looks like there is underground river below this site

Attending 3rd International Conference on Contaminated Sites Remediation - Rome 12-14 September, 2012

Attending 3rd International Conference on Contaminated Sites Remediation in Rome Italy from 12 to 14 of  September 2012.  The confeence was organized by The Interuniversity Centre of Technology and Chemistry for the Environment (CITCA), the Italian Association of Chemical Engineering (AIDIC), and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DICEA) of Sapienza University of Rome. The Third International Conference on Contaminated Sites Remediation, Bosicon 2012, aims  at presenting  recent scientific and technical contributions in characterization, risk assessment, innovative process design and new technologies in the field of contaminated sites, as well as brownfield restoration.

Paper presented during the Conference

One day trip to City of Pompeii, Naples, Italy

Finally, my ambition to visit and explore the City of Pompeii was achieved.  It was a day trip to City of Naples and Pompeii from Rome using Green-Line Tour Bus.  It was so exciting, I learnt a lot  during the visit especially about the tragedy of Pompeii .  Hopefully my visit will be beneficial for my Environmental Geology class where the ruined of Pompeii is part of my lecture.

Standing in the middle of the road at the remains of the City of  Pompeii

Photo of Mount Vesuvius captured from my tour bus (middle of photo)

Stone columns of one of the houses at City of Pompeii

A nice view of Bay of Naples

Second Lecture at University Malaya organised by Geological Society of Malaysia

Second invitation by Mr Tan Boon Kong from Geological Society of Malaysia to give a talk at "Malam Sekitaran II - 2012" .  The topic presented entitled "Partitioning coefficient parameter of heavy metals for groundwater contaminant transport modeling". 

My New Internship Student, Mr Shohta Kihara

Mr Shohta Kihara, a graduate student from Kyoto University in Japan will be working in my Laboratory for three months starting from 4th of September 2012.  He will be conducting a research on the migration of heavy metals through natural granitic soil.  He will conduct three major experiments in his laboratory work such as batch sorption test, leaching column 1g and miniature column centrifuge testing. He will also work closely with me to experience the waste disposal by landfilling and contaminated land management in Malaysia. 

Mr Shohta Kihara from Kyoto University in Japan.

Radionuclide Impact Assessment (RIA) in Bintulu Sarawak

I've been appointed as Geology and Hydrogeology consultant to Asialab (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd to conduct a geology and hydrogeological study of a proposed smelting plant in Bintulu Sawarak.  The study involved groundwater modeling using MODFLOW computer software, description of the geology and seismic acitvity of the project site.   The study was part of the Radionuclide Impact Assessment (RIA) study that is required by Malaysia Department of Environment. 

Production groundwater well at one of the Kampung in Bintulu with a depth around almost 60m

One of the monitoring wells that was constructed for this project

The geology of the project site comprised of interbedded of sandstone, siltstone and shale. 

Invited Lecture at University Malaya organised by Geological Society of Malaysia

I was invited by Mr Tan Boon Kong from Geological Society of Malaysia to give a talk at "Malam Sekitaran 2012" .  The topic presented entitled "Development of Mini Geotechnical Centrifuge in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia".

Mini Geotechnical Centrifuge at GERG

Prof Kenichi Soga Visits to GERG

Prof. Kenichi Soga from Cambridge University has visited GERG centrifuge facility at Geology Programme of UKM.  He was accompanied by his former student, Dr. Hisham Mohamed from University Teknologi Malaysia.  Prior to that, Prof. Soga has delivered a special lecture at The Institute of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) in Petaling Jaya.  The lecture was entitled "Landslides - Physical and Numerical Modeling of Large Ground Movements".  It is a great honored to have Prof Soga and Dr Hisyam to our research laboratory in UKM.  The visit was also accompanied by Prof. Raihan Taha from Civil Engineering Department of UKM.  -- Wan Zuhairi Yaacob

Prof Kenichi Soga and Dr Hisham Mohamad who were accompanied by Prof. Raihan Taha in Geotechnical Centrifuge facility at UKM in Bangi, Selangor.  

Another photo captured during the visit with Prof Kenichi Soga and Prof. Raihan Taha. 

Attending Prof. Soga special lecture at IEM Petaling Jaya.

Hi-Tea Talk on Groundwater Resources and Contamination

Teknik Edisi Sdn Bhd has organised a talk on The Application of Contaminated Land Management in Malaysia very recently.  I was invited to give a seminar on "Groundwater Resources, Exploration and Contamination".  The lecture was held at Equatorial Hotel in Penang and most of the participants were a member of Industrial Society in Penang.  -- Wan Zuhairi Yaacob

Presenting my lecture on Groundwater in Equatorial Hotel Penang

GROUNDWATER - What, Why, Where & How?

Attending Groundwater Conference - What, Why, Where and How?.  The conference is held at the Ruby Ballroom, One World Hotel in Petaling Jaya.

“Climate change brings about a lot of uncertainty and it may affect the water supply. The water from some rivers is just too polluted so we are studying if groundwater can be exploited,” (Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah Embas)

2nd Geoenvironment Talk: Dr Rahman Yaccup

Dr Rahman Yaacup from Malaysian Nuclear Agency has given a talk based on his PhD thesis.  The Talk is entitled "Mapping the Contaminant Dispersion using GEM-2 survey".  Dr Rahman obtained his PhD from Cardiff University under the supervision of Dr Peter Brabham. 

 

Dr Rahman is presenting his talk

 

The 1st slide showing the title of Dr Rahman's talk

Teaching Assessment

Something to share with all my students.  Many thanks for your kind assessment. -- Wan Zuhairi Yaacob

Panel Reviewer for 3rd International Conference on Contaminated Sites Remediation - Rome 11-14 September, 2012

My name has appeared in BOSICON 2012 website as one of the reviewers.  The conference will be held this September. 

Groundwater Sampling at Tanjung Duabelas in Banting Selangor

Sampling for groundwater samples was conducted together with Mr Jasni Yaacob (LESTARI), Mr Atea Al Porakes (my PhD student) and Mr Farid Adnan (Geochemistry technician).  The sampling was conducted via several boreholes that were drilled using hand auger for up-to 10 m depth.  The water levels in the boreholes were firstly measured using dip meter and then purging was performed using a pump to remove all stagnant water inside the wells.  Sample was collected after a few hours using a bailer - Dr Wan Zuhairi Yaacob

Measuring the water table in the borehole using dip meter. 

Close-up view of dip meter sensor

New pump (1.7 horse power) is used to purge (clean) the borehole.

Sampling the groundwater using bailer.

Photo of the day: (from left to right) Mr Jasni Yaacob (LESTARI), Mr. Farid Adnan, Mr Atea Al-Porakis and Dr. Wan Zuhairi Yaacob

Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) at abandoned Tin Mine of Sg Lembing Pahang

A fieldwork was conducted at Sg. Lembing ex-mining land on Saturday July 7th, 2012.  It was part of the requirement for Geo-Environmental coursework STAG3342 (Geo-environment & Anthropogenic Influence). The main objective of this fieldwork was to give exposure to students how to conduct site investigation of contaminated land according to Contaminated Land Management and Control Guidelines: Assessing and Reporting Contaminated Sites, that was introduced by Department of Environment Malaysia in 2009. 

During the fieldwork, students were divided into two groups. They were requested to do soil, surface water and groundwater samplings and also produce a simple Conceptual Site Model (CSM) of the site and taking into account the relationship between source -- pathways -- receptors.  Report will be submitted at the end of the semester (before the final exam week). -- (Dr Wan Zuhairi Yaacob)

One of the students measuring the surface water parameters using YSI water quality meter

Collecting surface water for chemical analyses of heavy metals.  This small drain is covered with red and yellow stain as a result of acid mine formation. 

Tailings deposit that has been exposed to air and rain for the past 26 years!

Group photo of  class 2011/2012 -- Geo-environment Module

IPTA Fundamental Research Grant (FRGS)

I have been granted a research grant from Ministry of Higher Education with the amount of RM109800 to conduct a research project entitled "The Migration of Heavy Metals Through Compacted Clay Liner using Small Scale Geotechnical Centrifuge".  The project will begin on April 4th 2012 and will be completed on April 3rd 2014 (24 months) -- Dr Wan Zuhairi Yaacob.

Geology Field Trip : Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan

A geology field-trip to Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan with the main objective to locate new outcrops for 1st year student fieldwork.-- Dr Wan Zuhairi Yaacob

New outcrop next to Temerloh Exit

Professor Dr. Abdul Ghani Rafek and Dr Wan Zuhairi Yaacob

3rd International Conference on Contaminated Sites Remediation - Rome 11-14 September, 2012

Finished reviewing three articles for BOSICON International Conference.

2nd phase of Centrifuge Development at Geology Programme UKM

A meeting was held to discuss about the upgrading work on the Mini Geotechnical Centrifuge facility at Geology Program, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. The upgrading work will involve the installation of new slip ring, resistivity/temperature/pore pressure transducer probes, data logger with multi-plex circuit. The new machine will also be equipped with a new camera and computer. This project is funded by MOSTI -- Wan Zuhairi Yaacob
Discussion on board !

Working Group Meeting on Site Remediation at SIRIM Bhd

Attending Working Group Meeting on Site Remediation at SIRIM Bhd in Shah Alam. The meeting started at 9:30am and ended around 1pm. The main agenda of the meeting was to revised the "Guidelines for Landfill Closure".-- Dr Wan Zuhairi Yaacob